to think Covid is changing people in unusual and disturbing ways?

[tttigress]

Have you noticed Covid changing you friends? Effecting their mental health?

Couple of examples of friends who have been very vocal on social media:

Friend1:
previously: quite left wing, into animal rights.
now: sees Covid as a scam, posting stuff from right ring/conspiracy oriented sites, attended a protest where people like David Icke was in attendance, many comments about "do your own research, don't listen to the main stream media"

Friend2:
previously: quite relaxed (maybe too relaxed), bit of a stoner, bit of a drinker, life of the part, quite sociable.
now: hardly leaves the house due to Covid, thinks people should wear masks at all times - even when outside, thinks people are taking Covid nowhere near seriously enough, thinks the media is underplaying Covid, thinks doctors are underplaying Covid etc. Although they think their life is in imminent danger from Covid still smokes and drinks at home

I am am bit concerned about the mental health crisis Covid could be causing

I am absolutely flabbergasted by the lack of resilience in this country. I read similar forum and testimonies from people in other countries, usually with a real lockdown experience, not the washy version we had in the UK, and my god the difference!

It's not like people are especially happy or patient, but nowhere have I read so much moaning than the UK about mental health, being unable to wear a mask... and not coping when really NOTHING has happened to them!

It's embarrassing.

The worst thing is how some people seem to have appointed themselves as Corona-police - reporting people for breaches of the regulations; aggressively having a go at people in public for seemingly breaching regulations etcetc. Basically the willingness to interfere with what other people are doing and report them.

Then there's the polarization of people, especially on social media. Everyone who says the least thing about the vaccine that isn't "yes, I'm going to get it immediately" is labelled as an anti-vaxxer when that simply isn't the case. The aggression towards the supposed "anti-vaxxers" is shocking. People should be able to ask questions and get non-biased information at the vaccine without all this aggression. Similarly those who are completely anti-vaccine having a go at those who want to take it is completely out of order too.

We seem to have become much less tolerant and much less understanding of other people's right to their own opinions and less willing to engage in reasoned debate without resort to name-calling.

And then of course there are very worrying developments regarding the mental health of individuals. I have seen people I have known for years veering to completely different political standpoints and posting a non-stop stream of extreme posts on social media. Some people seem to be very easily manipulated and that is concerning.

Then there are the people who are struggling with isolation, struggling with home-office etc.
There are definitely going to be very serious long-term effects and it's very concerning.

@NoPainNoTartine in other countries, there is more community spirit/clear directions from the government/society was more cohesive to begin with. There is a real feeling that everyone is in this together and everyone has to work together.

In the UK, we have dominic cummngs jetting off to barnard castle to test his eyesight.

I so wish the government had invested in actually educating people about the disease instead of issuing diktats and slogans.

It’s a disease spread by droplet infection. The best way to avoid catching it and or spreading it is to avoid mixing with other people as much as possible. When we do need to mix, we should wear appropriate protection and maintain as much distance as possible.

The rowing about what is and isn’t allowed is a distraction from keeping people safe and as the OP points out, has hugely damaging effects on people’s MH

The moment when the police turned up to disperse the people attending my lovely neighbours MacMillan take away coffee and cake sale I really felt something snap inside me. Yes, there were a few people standing about chatting and yes there were more than 6 people there at that particular moment but ffs, it was outside, people kept a distance and most only lingered to pay/ donate and then left with their take away coffee and cake.

Who called the police? We don't know but I felt it was quite unnecessary as it was for a good cause and outside. We were in Tier 1 at the time.

People are not the same. It makes me sad.

It's not like people are especially happy or patient, but nowhere have I read so much moaning than the UK about mental health, being unable to wear a mask... and not coping when really NOTHING has happened to them!
I live in another country and speak the language fluently and read comments on websites from other countries which also speak the language. I can assure you that for these countries the comments are also a non-stop stream of expressing concerns about mental health; people objecting to wearing masks; objecting to the measures put in place by the governments of their countries. Pretty much the same sort of thing as people in the UK are posting.

The things you have been reading from another country might sound less moany than UK comments but that does not mean that the UK is the most moany!!

Ridiculous microchip conspiracies aside, there is some truth in the fact that policitians are usually in power for their own self-interest, and a lot of them have shares in big companies (facebook, Amazon, Google, Tesla, pharma companies) that have all done REALLY well out of this pandemic. Big companies' share prices and wealth has grown enormously. The government's policies can directly influence those share prices - for example if they mandate that everyone has to have a vaccine, their shares will grow way more than if they say "it's not that important, you can choose" and hardly anyone gets the vaccine. Yes, Covid is a disease that is serious for the elderly and vulnerable, but for everyone else it most often isn't - plus there is now concern about the accuracy of PCR testing and the way deaths are recorded, that anyone who died of any cause will go down as Covid if they received a positive PCR test.

I have friends that completely believe everything that comes out of the government's mouth, and can't fathom why they would lie for their own gain, which is pretty naive.

Yes. I was expecting the depression and anxiety. I've been feeling anxious and depressed myself. What I hadn't expected was a) how many people (with normal contact levels reduced) would clam up and find this difficult to talk about, i.e. the lack of opportunities for support and empathy and b) the anger.

I've been absolutely shocked by the way that several previously tolerant and calm colleagues, who would say that all with them is well and good, have let rip about quite trivial things. My inbox bubbles with so much irritability, not towards me, but still alarming, that I am starting to dread checking it. Also people driving like maniacs, police officers shouting at people in the street, people heckling each other etc. I hate it.

@NoPainNoTartine

I am absolutely flabbergasted by the lack of resilience in this country. I read similar forum and testimonies from people in other countries, usually with a real lockdown experience, not the washy version we had in the UK, and my god the difference!

It's not like people are especially happy or patient, but nowhere have I read so much moaning than the UK about mental health, being unable to wear a mask... and not coping when really NOTHING has happened to them!

It's embarrassing.

I'm flabbergasted by the lack of resilience in terms of people refusing to accept the risk of the virus to the point they want to tell others how to live and are happy for people to go bankrupt.

I'd be interested to see how some of these people react if supermarket workers refused to work.

btw I don't think there's a microchip in the vaccine - I just think it's understandable why others might.

No, havent noticed changes but then my friends are a rational bunch.

Locally I've noticed a lot more charitable giving/ shopping local/ support being offered to anyone who needs it. School children are being fed and other examples that I wont go into.

YANBU I agree I've been quite surprised at the change in some of my friends and in myself.

Alternative ""don't know why this is so far fetched" post that from your mobile phone did you? Or from your computer?

Assuming you have a mobile phone, use google, have either an Alexa or a google home they don’t need to inject you with a microchip to know where you are. You’ve already given them access to that information."

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yes, I'm posting from my computer. I don't use a smartphone. I wouldn't dream of using Alexa or anything like that.

There's a big difference between using a computer and all the other stuff.

as for the phone - it's only if you take it everywhere with you that they know where you are. That has been an issue in lockdown.

I don't use google but I tend to imagine all the search engines are pretty much the same.

"I live in another country and speak the language fluently and read comments on websites from other countries which also speak the language. I can assure you that for these countries the comments are also a non-stop stream of expressing concerns about mental health; people objecting to wearing masks; objecting to the measures put in place by the governments of their countries. Pretty much the same sort of thing as people in the UK are posting."

I live abroad too and we do get the same comments except that there isn't as much talk about people who are medically exempt from wearing masks. It's just not a big thing where I am.
There are anti-maskers too. One woman said on TV that her humanity had been taken away from her. I know what she means, but it was a bit over the top.

There were massive riots in France the other day, they've had them in Germany too even though their lockdown's not too bad.

More conspiracy theorists around, that's for sure. I don't know if they have changed or just become more emboldened.

There seem to be more on the forums and in real life too. My daughter works in retail and had one ranting at her yesterday - "they want to stop us working". Why?

She's just blocked a guy on online dating for replying to her message cancelling a date, with a load of conspiracy theories. He became quite abusive and was one step away from calling her a sheeple. That was a lucky escape

I live abroad too and we do get the same comments except that there isn't as much talk about people who are medically exempt from wearing masks. It's just not a big thing where I am.
There are anti-maskers too. One woman said on TV that her humanity had been taken away from her. I know what she means, but it was a bit over the top.

Exactly. There's "moaning" going on all over the world. Yet on every thread like this someone pops up claiming that it's only in the UK where people are "moaning" or are less resilient etcetc.

I work in mental health services.

It’s already a disaster.

And we remain completely fucked with regards to funding and staff.

The things you have been reading from another country might sound less moany than UK comments but that does not mean that the UK is the most moany!!

I am not pretending that people are happy, and there are serious concerns about the economy and their businesses collapsing. But I honestly have not read as much drama as I read on here.

People complain because they don't like it, they don't agree with it... it's a different mindset as people here pretending they just can't cope.

Isn't it in France that even primary school kids have to wear a mask in class? If you listen to some posters on here, English kids would just collapse right there. I can think of plenty of reasons why it's not a good idea and I wouldn't be happy about it, but it's not just because the kids cannot breath or are "mask refusers"

I think there is a lot of damage to people's mental health as well as the obvious that some people are now terrified of going out and others are conspiracy theorists. This has caused a divide much like the Brexit divide.
The majority of people are now pretty social isolated with WFH, schools off, furlough, money worries, elderly isolation etc. This is not healthy for most people. There are couples who have split up due to being stuck together 24/7, DV is worse.

@AcornAutumn

Far fetched? Not mine but

Your birth was registered. Your school was allocated by where you live. You've had a National Insurance record since you were 16. HMRC know where you work and how much you earn. The Council and utility companies know where you live. DVLA know where you live and how good a driver you are. Your doctor has a complete record of your health since birth. You carry a phone with GPS that can track your location to within inches. Your supermarket loyalty card knows what you buy. Your internet activity is monitored so adverts and other content can be tailored just for you.

But yeah, let's purposely create a deadly virus and kill over a million people just so Bill Gates can put a microchip in a vaccine so he can 'see what you're doing'.

Exactly. There's "moaning" going on all over the world. Yet on every thread like this someone pops up claiming that it's only in the UK where people are "moaning" or are less resilient etcetc.

well, people are much less resilient in the UK.

We experienced one of the least strict possible lockdowns and the lightest restrictions for a start. For a normal person, it's a positive surely? Nope, people have to faint in anguish about not copying

But yeah, let's purposely create a deadly virus and kill over a million people just so Bill Gates can put a microchip in a vaccine so he can 'see what you're doing'.

I do love the idea that joe blog imagine his little life so interesting that Bill Gates and co can't wait to follow his every moves

And unless Joe lives in the middle of a deserted forrest without any modern equipment, so wouldn't be posting on the internet, they already have access to anything they want.

[quote e1y1]@AcornAutumn

Far fetched? Not mine but

Your birth was registered. Your school was allocated by where you live. You've had a National Insurance record since you were 16. HMRC know where you work and how much you earn. The Council and utility companies know where you live. DVLA know where you live and how good a driver you are. Your doctor has a complete record of your health since birth. You carry a phone with GPS that can track your location to within inches. Your supermarket loyalty card knows what you buy. Your internet activity is monitored so adverts and other content can be tailored just for you.

But yeah, let's purposely create a deadly virus and kill over a million people just so Bill Gates can put a microchip in a vaccine so he can 'see what you're doing'.[/quote]
this isn't what I'm saying.

I'm just saying I can see why people think that a microchip in a person is feasible for better overall control.

I don't carry a phone with GPS or use loyality cards.

I don't think the virus was created intentionally - though ironically one of my friends thinks I'm a conspiracy theorist, but is "shielding herself", quarantining deliveries etc and then told me she thinks the virus escaped from a lab.

What I'm trying to say here is that I'm prepared to consider a lot of possibilities. Some people think Mary was a virgin. I'm not having a go at them!

And yes, vaccines are a wonderful investment if you've got the money to invest in the first place. This has been discussed on the BBC but somehow I'm still a conspiracy theorist for daring to mention it.

I just wish I had Pfizer shares!

Flip from v left to v right happened to several acquaintances pre-COVID here, OP, with Brexit as the driver. Not minising the MH aspects though we've still got reduced suicide rates here, compared with pre-COVID. Not saying things won't change over time.

Tbh no. I've seen people being weird online, but I don't think I've seen any signs of Covid-related mental health changes in a single one of my family, friends or acquaintances. I mean, obviously I realise some of them may be feeling really anxious and keeping it well hidden. But honestly I've mostly found people I meet and know irl largely seem to have a pretty much 'keep cheerful and get on with it' attitude about it all.

one "conspiracy theory" I will say I believe is they want to get rid of cash.

There's still plenty of people around who will do cash jobs and I don't blame them frankly.